'Greatly missed': Gym reels over personal trainer's slaying

A shadow hung Monday over the normally upbeat GoodLife gym on Southdale Road.

Members showed up at the south London fitness centre, but many weren’t there to lift weights or do cardio. Instead, they came to share memories of popular personal trainer Dereck Szaflarski, who died following a fight on Richmond Row early Saturday while celebrating his birthday with friends.

Szaflarski, 27, had worked since February at the gym, where he was known for his upbeat personality, passion for fitness and magnetic energy.

“That gym is a really sad place today. Just walking in there, you can feel the difference,” said member Mandy Billedeau, who started training with Szaflarski a few months ago.

Szaflarski and Bielak, both Star Wars fans, got matching lightsaber tattoos. Bielak posted this photo on social media with the caption "No matter the distance we'll always have the force." (Submitted)

Dereck Szaflarski and friend Breana Bielak. (Submitted)

The white car, believed to be a Nissan Altima, in which a homicide suspect fled early Saturday morning.

London Police want to speak with this man in connection with a homicide investigation on Richmond Street. (Submitted)

Mandi Billedeau placed a bouquet of flowers at a makeshift memorial for Dereck Szaflarski, 27, who was killed during a fight near Richmond and Piccadilly streets on Saturday, May 26, 2018. Billedaua and other friends visited the memorial on Monday to pay their respects to Szaflarski. DALE CARRUTHERS / THE LONDON FREE PRESS

Brodie Elliott sprinkles indian tobacco at memorial for homicide victim Dereck Szaflarski at the corner of Piccadilly Street and Richmond Street in London, Ont. on Monday May 28, 2018. Elliott did not know Szaflarski but lives in the neighbourhood and was compelled to visit the memorial and offer a prayer. "I came to pay respect and honour the spirit he had," he said. "I pray for him and his family." The tobacco is used to help guide the prayer to a higher power. Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press/Postmedia NetworkDerek Ruttan/Derek Ruttan/London Free Press

“You just walk in and there’s a cloud of sadness. Everyone’s hurting.”

Szaflarski got into a fight with another man – friends say he was stabbed, but police won’t confirm it – near Richmond and Piccadilly streets on Saturday at 2:30 a.m. He died in hospital, police said.

Investigators released a grainy surveillance camera image of the suspect, as well as a photo of the two-door Nissan Altima in which they say he left the scene, but no suspects had been arrested as of Monday afternoon.

“We did receive a number of tips, but we are still appealing to the public for any additional information,” Const. Sandasha Bough, of London police, said.

London Police want to speak with this man in connection with a homicide investigation on Richmond Street. (Submitted)

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned man with a heavy build, six feet or taller. He was wearing blue jeans, a dark T-shirt, black running shoes with white soles, and a camouflage-patterned Toronto Blue Jays baseball cap.

Back at GoodLife, Szaflarski’s smiling photo was removed from the wall of personal trainers that greets clients near the gym’s $entrance.

GoodLife management instructed staff not to speak to the media, but the company released a statement expressing its condolences.

“On behalf of the entire GoodLife family, we extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Dereck’s family and friends, and to our associates and members who had the pleasure of working and training with Dereck,” company founder David Patchell-Evan said in a statement.

The white car, believed to be a Nissan Altima, in which a homicide suspect fled early Saturday morning.

“He touched many lives through his passion for helping others and he will be greatly missed.”

The London-based company donated $1,000, and the Southdale location contributed $500, to an online fundraiser to pay for Szaflarski’s funeral. The collection had raised more than $8,300 by $Monday.

Friends also erected a makeshift memorial to Szaflarski, the city’s third homicide of the year, under a tree on Piccadilly Street, just west of Richmond Street, where a stream of mourners stopped to pay their respects and lay flowers.

“He was just a smiling, happy person,” said Katu Azzya, who didn’t know Szaflarski personally, but saw him at the gym.

Billedeau, 32, teared up while placing a bouquet at the memorial to the man she called her “light.”

This Week's Flyers

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.